From Osaka, Japan! funs brewing, a Craft Beer Brewery Exclusively for Japanese Food

Craft beer has been steadily increasing in popularity around the world. Craft beer is a type of beer made at small breweries with a special attention to detail, and the ban on craft beer was lifted in Japan in 1994. In recent years, craft beer has become popular in Japan, especially among young people, and the greatest appeal of craft beer is the ability to find one’s own favorite flavor from a wide variety of beers.

In this issue, we will introduce some of the unique craft beers produced in various regions of Japan, and recommend some of the most unique Japanese craft beers for beer-loving foreigners. Check out these up-and-coming brewerie that are about to spread their wings from Osaka to the world!

 

“Sake no Hana” series of craft beers exclusively for Japanese food

As of 2025, there are more than 800 craft beer breweries throughout Japan.
The country is filled with a wide variety of craft beers, including beers that are full of regional characteristics and breweries’ individual personalities and specialties.

The craft beer introduced here is a rare craft beer by funs brewing called “Sake no Hana Series,” which is “exclusively for Japanese food.”

This beer was created by a group of craft beer lovers who came together in a marketing company with a history of about 60 years. In developing the beer, they conducted a survey of more than 100 foreign visitors to Japan, an effort unique to a marketing company. What they arrived at was a craft beer dedicated to sake, with a focus on “Japaneseness. As a “brewery without a brewery,” we are introducing the appeal of Japanese craft beer to the world.

 

The one and only beer that focuses on Japaneseness

funs brewing’s “Sake no Hana Series” is particular about the use of Sakekasu (sake lees) and Seishu kobo (sake yeast), which are produced in the process of making sake. By combining elements of sake with beer, the beer has an unprecedented flavor and a gorgeous, fruity aroma like sake. And because it is designed to pair well with Japanese food, the beer can be enjoyed in a wide range of ways.

I also like craft beers and have had many throughout Japan, but I have never seen a craft beer with such a Japanese flavor. If I come to Japan, I want to drink Japanese-style beer! This is the one and only craft beer that is perfect for those who think, “If I come to Japan, I want to drink Japanese-style beer!

 

Shabu-shabu, Sukiyaki… Pairing with Japanese cuisine

The “Sake no Hana Series” consists of a total of six varieties. They are brewed to suit a variety of Japanese cuisine, allowing you to enjoy pairing food and beer. Here are the features of each of the craft beers, a new concept of choosing the right beer to match the food, just like wine.

1) “Sake no Hana SAISON” for Tempura Only

The first beer in the Sake-no-Hana series. Based on the saison style beer traditionally drunk in southern Belgium, this beer is made with sake lees, sake yeast, and Hokkaido “Sorachi Ace” hops.
It has a fruity sake aroma and a refreshing lemon-like flavor, and its mild acidity and moderate dryness complement the taste of tempura.

Alcohol percentage: 7.5%
IBU (bitterness level): 25
SRM (color level): 4
Retail price at company-owned stores: 330ml bottle 1000 yen

2) “Sake no Hana Paleale” for Yakitori Only

PALEALE is a typical style of craft beer that originated in England. It has a gorgeous fruit-like aroma of ginjo, balanced by the sweetness and bitterness of pale ale.
The subtle sweetness of sake lees can be detected in the bitter flavor, making it a perfect match for the charred and salty aroma of grilled chicken. The bitterness of the beer, which is not too strong, neutralizes the fatty taste of the yakitori and makes you want to eat as many as possible.

Alcohol percentage: 5%
IBU (bitterness level): 30
SRM (color level): 14
Retail price at company-owned stores: 330ml bottle 1000 yen

3) “Sake no Hana SessionIPA” for Curry Only

SessionIPA, an IPA (India Pale Ale) made easy to drink with a lower alcohol content of 4.5%. This is the perfect accompaniment to curry, Japan’s national dish, with its gorgeous fruity aroma derived from sake lees enhancing the spicy flavor. Try it with a variety of curries, including not only spiced curries but also Japanese-style curries with concentrated sweetness of fruits and vegetables.

Alcohol percentage: 4.5%
IBU (bitterness level): 30
SRM (color level): 3
Retail price at company-owned stores: 330ml bottle 1000 yen

4) “Sake no Hana WEIZEN” for Sushi Only

WEIZEN is a traditional German beer made from more than 50% wheat. Sake no Hana WEIZEN, which can be paired with sushi, has a gentle aroma and a moderate acidity. It has almost no bitterness, allowing you to fully enjoy the deliciousness of sushi ingredients. It is especially good with light white fish and slightly sour oshizushi and chirashizushi.

Alcohol percentage: 5%
IBU (bitterness level): 12
SRM (color level): 7
Retail price at company-owned stores: 330ml bottle 1000 yen

5) “Sake no Hana REDALE” for Sukiyaki Only

The caramelized aroma characteristic of red ale, with its light red color, matches the savory sweetness of meat grilled with sukiyaki sauce. The caramelized red ale is harmonized with the fruity flavor derived from sake lees and enhances the flavor and sweetness of the meat.
The slightly sharp aftertaste moderately neutralizes the fat content of the meat and brings it all together. Recommended for those who want to enjoy sukiyaki slowly and carefully until the end.

Alcohol percentage: 6%
IBU (bitterness level): 35
SRM (color level): 18
Retail price at company-owned stores: 330ml bottle 1000 yen

6) “Sake no Hana HAZY IPA” for Shabu Shabu Only

HAZY IPA is a style derived from IPA (India Pale Ale) and is characterized by its cloudy appearance. Sake no Hana HAZY IPA uses little or no beer yeast, and sake yeast is used in the main fermentation to add lightness and a good sharpness to the juiciness characteristic of HAZY IPA. The mellow tropical fruit-like aroma combined with the gorgeous aroma and flavor of sake enhances the natural flavor and sweetness of the meat. We especially recommend pairing it with pork loin and sesame sauce shabu-shabu.

Alcohol percentage: 7%
IBU (bitterness level): 35
SRM (color level): 4
Retail price at company-owned stores: 330ml bottle 1100 yen

 

funsbrewing BEERHOUSE OSAKA, a directly managed beer house in Horie, Osaka

All of the craft beers in the Sake no Hana series are available in different beer styles, and they offer the perfect Japanese food pairing for each flavor and taste. If you actually want to try the Sake no Hana series, visit funsbrewing BEERHOUSE OSAKA in Horie, Osaka, a directly managed beer house that opened in October 2024. 10 taps of the Sake no Hana series and other selected craft beers from around Japan are always on tap. The brewery has 10 taps available at any given time, including the “Sake no Hana” series.

The Kodawari Times editors attended the tasting and would like to share with you the pairing of craft beer and Japanese food, as well as the atmosphere of the restaurant.

We tasted a set of six different “Sake no Hana” series drinks.

When the six types are arranged like this, they look very different in color! The glasses are numbered in the lower left corner, so I compared them one by one, listening to their characteristics. By the way, the numbers are the same as those in the lineup introduced earlier.
When I took a sip of each beer, I found that the aroma and taste of all the beers were completely different, but all of them had the aroma and sweetness of sake lees and sake yeast! Even those who are not familiar with craft beer will find them easy to drink.

In addition, there are six assorted side dishes that go well with beer. Kanikama (crab sticks) Tempura, Curry, pork Shabu-Shabu… You can enjoy a little bit of each pairing that only a craft beer made exclusively for Japanese food can offer. The tempura batter and curry are prepared with beer, a hidden flavor unique to the brewery. Every menu item is a perfect match for beer, and you won’t be able to stop eating the chopsticks with your snacks.

I liked the pairing of “2) Sake no Hana PALEALE” with Tsukuneyaki. The Sake no Hana PALEALE was easy to drink with a well-balanced flavor, with a firm bitterness and a lingering sweetness from the sake lees and sake yeast. The bitterness and sweetness of this pale ale matched well with the spicy tsukune yaki with yuzu kosho, and the beer went down a treat!

If you are a first-time drinker of Sake no Hana series craft beers, be sure to order the drink comparison set and the assorted entrées to enjoy the beer and Japanese food pairing.
If you like any of the beers, we recommend buying them as souvenirs to take home with you.

Store Locations

Hours: Monday-Friday: 16:00-22:00
Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: 12:00-22:00
*Close at 17:00 on Sundays *open irregularly
Address: H1 Building, 1-15-10 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

 

Bringing Japanese Craft Beer to the World! funs Brewing’s Dream

In 2024, traditional Japanese sake brewing was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. “Sake no Hana” is a craft beer made with sake yeast and sakekasu, an essential ingredient in sake brewing, which is attracting attention from around the world. And Japanese food, which accompanies the beer, is also a culinary culture that Japan is proud to share with the world, and was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013.

funs brewing aims to share the interesting culture of Japanese food and Japanese craft beer with the world through craft beer, which is unique in the world.
When you come to Osaka, why don’t you enjoy Japanese-style beer and Japanese food in the casual atmosphere of a beer pub? Come on, let’s all toast together at “Sake no Hana” 🍻

funs brewing Official Site:https://funsbrewing.com/en